Novak Djokovic - (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
In an intense showdown, Novak Djokovic managed to win the Cincinnati Open after a nail-biting match against world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz. Djokovic faced stifling heat and even a match point but triumphed with a score of 5-7, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (4) in a nearly four-hour-long match on Sunday.
After the victory, Djokovic celebrated by collapsing on his back and tearing off his shirt. This win marked his third title in Cincinnati and was sweet revenge for his loss to Alcaraz in last month’s Wimbledon final.
“This was one of the most exciting matches I’ve ever played in any tournament,” said Djokovic, who has won 23 Grand Slam titles. “It felt like a Grand Slam.”
A Battle in Sweltering Conditions
The match was played in sweltering conditions with temperatures nearing 90 degrees. Djokovic, at 36 years old, became the oldest man to win the championship, surpassing Ken Rosewall, who was 35 when he won in 1970. At 3 hours and 49 minutes, this match was also the longest best-of-three-set final in ATP tour history since 1990.
In the first set, Djokovic struggled with the humidity and seemed sluggish, allowing Alcaraz to take the lead by winning the set.
Djokovic’s Triumph and Alcaraz’s Resilience
Alcaraz maintained his momentum by taking a 4-2 lead in the second set, seemingly on his way to victory. However, a poor service game by Alcaraz at 4-3 allowed Djokovic to stay in the game.
In a tense second-set tiebreak, Djokovic saved a championship point and forced a deciding set after a 25-shot rally.
Before the third set, Alcaraz, frustrated, hit his hand against a drinks container and needed a medical timeout to tape his finger.
In the final set, Djokovic broke Alcaraz for a 4-3 lead after his fifth opportunity. The drama continued as Djokovic squandered match points at 5-3, and Alcaraz saved two more, breaking Djokovic’s serve for 5-5.
The match came down to another tiebreak, which Djokovic won when Alcaraz’s forehand return went wide.
This victory marked Djokovic’s 95th career title and his 39th Masters 1000 crown.
Looking Ahead to the US Open
“I have so much to say, but I’m not sure I have the energy,” Djokovic said, holding his trophy and addressing Alcaraz. “You never give up, do you? I love that about you. I hope we meet in New York. That would be fun – well, for the fans, not for me.”
The US Open begins on August 28, and Alcaraz, as the defending champion, remains No. 1 heading into the tournament.
Reflecting on the match, Alcaraz said, “The match was pretty close. I’ll be back.”
This was the fourth meeting between Djokovic and Alcaraz, with each player now having won two matches.
Djokovic compared the intensity of the match to his iconic 2012 Australian Open final against Rafael Nadal, stating, “Each point is a hustle. Each point is a battle. You’ve got to earn every single point, every single shot, regardless of the conditions.”
Both Djokovic and Alcaraz praised each other’s performance, highlighting the young Spaniard’s impressive composure and maturity on the court.
